Degreasing apparatus



Jan. 9, 1945. J. G. WOPPMAN ETAL 2,366,949

DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH a WOPPMAN BY HERMAN H HJMMEL ALBER J NEWMAN 9, 9 5- J. G. WOPPMAN ETAL 2,366,949

DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N N A MW P W PM O WWHN mc E N. v Am IWM B mm JHA Y B 5 J. G. WOPPMAN ET AL 2,366,949

DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOSEPH .e. WOPPMAN BYHEMAN H. HUMMEL ER NEWMAN r 7 ONE Jan. 9, 1945- J. G. WOPPMAN ET AL 2,3 6,949

DEGREASING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 juvzm'oes JosEFH G,WOPFMRN H ERMHN H. HVMMEL HLEEKT' J.NEWMFU\| ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1945 DEGREASING APPARATUS Joseph G. Woppman, Williamsville, Herman H. Hummel, Eggertsville, and Albert J. Newman, Kenmore, N. Y., assignors to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 29, 1943, Serial No. 474,028

9 Claims. (Cl. 202170) This invention relates to the apparatus for removing grease and the like from articles which are in the process of fabrication, in order that they may be more readily handled and prepared for a covering of paint and the like.

Heretofore, degreasing apparatus, utilizing sol vents adapted to be vaporized and-allowed to deposit or condense upon the articles being cleaned, have been more or less manual in their operation. The timing for the keeping of these articles within the solvent vapors has been dependent upon the'operator in control of the apparatus. Very often the articles were left in the degreasing vapors considerably longer than was necessary, the time usually required being only'such time as it takes to return the vapor to its original state or temperature after the relatively cool articles have been placed within the same. Once the articles have been completely coated with the condensate, the cleaning operation is practically finished, except for the rinsing operation which is often necessary for the removal of unsoluble particles adhering to the articles. This rinsing is often done with the condensate of the vapor.

Further, with such apparatus, the tanks have been open, and due to the misjudgment of the operator in failing to maintain the hand spray lance within the vapor at the time of spraying, considerable fumes have been created about the apparatus which have been extremely objectionable to the operators, the operators at times refusing to work on the apparatus for this reason. The chemical or solvent often used in this process, is trichlor-ethylene, which in small quantities may not be particularly harmful, but when contact is made with the heated or more concentrated fumes of the same, considerable harmful effects result to the operators.

Also the system utilizedheretofore for the replenishing of solvents within the degreasing apparatus has necessitated the often closing down of the apparatus for a periodic thorough cleaning of sludge and oil from the apparatus which necessitated the putting of the same out of commission for a considerable duration. No means was provided for keeping a. clean and unsour vapor within the tank, and the condensate with the grease in it being used over and over again.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a degreasing apparatus in which the cycle of operation is made automatic and put out of the control of the operator once the initial movement is made by the operator to start the cycle.

It is-another object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the parts of the degreasing apparatus wherein the fumes escaping from the same will be kept at a minimum and not dependent upon the skill of the operator, and more particularly wherein the spraying device is rigidly retained at a location within the vapor region of the degreasing tank. It is still another object of the invention to provide a degreasing apparatus with a means wherein-the degreasing condensate is constantly kept substantially pure whereby the vapors will be readily maintained at the proper consistency and wherein a maximum degreasing effect will be maintained at all periods of operation.

According to the present invention, the typical degreasing or cleaning apparatus of this type using degreasing vapors for the efiecting of the cleaning operation, has been made automatic. The operator need only to start the hoisting or conveyor apparatus to begin the cycle of operation. The hoisting apparatus will deliver the articles to the vapor where the vapors will be condensed on the same. Since the state of the vapors is temporarily changed, due to submersion of the cooler articles into the vapor, means responsive to the return of these vapors to the original state is provided to start the spraying operation and the automatic withdrawal of the articles from the degreasing vapors. Once the vapors have returned to their original state the condensation on the articles is complete. The spray is then used for effecting a rinsing operation in order to take care of the insoluble particles adhering to the articles. After the spraying operation is completed, an automatic time delay is effected to permit the articles to drain before the hoisting or removing apparatus comes into play to effectthe automatic removal of the articles. The sprayin device is arranged to maintain the spray well within the degreasing zone so that obnoxious fumes which resulted from the hand spraying operations are eliminated.

Also apparatus is provided for maintaining the degreasing solvent in as pure a state as possible at all times. A supply of clean and purified condensate is maintained ready for delivery by the spra Pumps at all times. This supply is obtained from two sources, one being a distilling apparatus which continually draws a condensate from the bottom of the degreasing tank and delivers its distilled condensate to the pump supply. The second source of supply is a condenser within the tank which is employed for maintaining the degreasing vapors within the same at a definite level. Condensate forms on the coils of the con position above the same.

denser and drops into a trough from which it is delivered, to the pump supply reservoir. Means within the pump supply reservoir is provided for always maintaining a proper level so that the spraying pump will always receive sufliclent condensate to satisfactorily perform the rinsing oping of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of the degreasing apparatus and of the distilling apparatus associated therewith, the section being taken along lines l-l of Fig. 2, which is a sectional view in elevation of the degreasing tank as viewed in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed perspective views of the thermally responsive apparatus used for controlling the spraying operation anld the withdrawal of the articles from the degreasing vapor, the said apparatus being movable into the degreasing vapor zone to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4, and also being movable out of the vapor zone to the unextended position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the automatic electric control mechanism utilized for effecting the automatic operation of the" degreasing apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the sets of spraying pipes such as located at the ends of the tank.

Fig. 7 is the sectional view through the pipes, taken in the direction of the arrows 1-1 of Fig.

6 and illustrating the location of the spray open-- ings of the diflerent pipes arranged vertically, one above the other.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, of the cleaned condensate supply tank from which the spray condensate and thecondensate for replenishing the tank is obtained.

. Fig. 91s a three-point perspective view taken from above the hoisting apparatus and looking upon the same and upon the degreasing tank, the basket for the lowering of the articles into the degreasing tank being properly centered in Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a degreasing tank l5 having an outwardly flared Opening portion I6 in its top. A portion 01' the tank I5 is located well below the floor level indicated at I 1. The portion of the tank and the flared portion I 6 which is above the floor level is of a height considerably higher than that of a man, so that the man is kept from the top of the tank where he might receive any stray fumes coming from the same. If it is necessary for him to look into the tank, he may do so through a glass l8, located at about the level of his eyes, through which he can look down into the tank and observe the action taking place. Also in the portion I6 is an opening door l9 through which, if necessary, adjustment of the articles within the tank may be made in times of emergency, and through which a new supp y supply there is provided heating coils 2| which are maintained hot at all times for eflecting evaporation of the solvent in order that degreasing vapors be maintained above the same. The vapors rise from the solvent 26 upwardly in the tank to a point where they contact cooling coils 22 nested in the tank and surrounding the inside of the same. These cooling coils serve as means for preventing the fumes from leaving the top of the tank. 35' means of these coils a definite region or zone of the vapors is always maintained in the bottom of the tank. The condensate of the vapor, which drains oi! the coils 22, is collected in a trough 23 and is delivered bymeans of taining a definite level, to pass to the other compartment.

Out 01' the bottom oi'the tank and in communication with the solvent 26 therein, is a vertically extending pipe 32 which delivers the condensate therefrom to a distilling apparatus 33 located at the side of the tank and at the floor level. Thisdelivery of the solvent is made possible by means of a constantly driven pump 34, dependent upon its operation on an electric motor 35. The solvent leaves the pump through a pipe 36 and is delivered to the top of the distilling apparatus at a location indicated at 31. The condensate within the distilling apparatus 33 is indicated at 38 and this is kept constantly in a boiling condition by a heating coil 40 located in the bottom of the still. Clean or distilled vapors pass on through the top of the still into a pipe 4| which passes through a condenser 42 which is kept supplied with cooling water entering a pipe 43 and leaving a pipe 44. The vapors, on leaving the condenser 42, are substantially condensed to liquid form, whereupon they pass through a water separator 45 for delivery through a pipe 46-to the compartment 28 of the condensate supply tank 21. The oil sludge remaining in the bottom of the still is occasionally drained oil through a valve controlled outlet 41.

It should now be'apparent that the compartment 28 of the condensate supply tank 21 receives distilled condensate from two sources, and that such condensate has been deprived of its water content. From this compartment 28, the condensate for the spraying of the articles is taken. A pipe 48 extends into the compartment 28 and connects with a motor driven pump 49, operated by an electric motor El, and through pipe 52 clean condensate is delivered to the sets 53 and 64 of spraying pipes located respectively at opposite ends of th tank It. Enlarged views of these spraying pipes are shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and they are so arranged as viewed particularly in Fig. 7, and in Fig. 2, as to produce respectively spraying streams at different angles, in order that they may reach all articles as located in the tank for satisfactory cleaning of the same. As seen in Fig. 7, spray outlets are shown at 55 and it will be noted therein that these spray outlets of diflerent pipes 58 servingto make up the set, are at different angles with the horizontal. For instance, the pipe'located at the bottom'of the set is angled to deliver spraying fluid close to the end of thetank, whereas the pipe'at the top of the set has its supply opening angled to deliver the condensate to the articles more removed to the ,end of the tank and well within the middle of the same.

It should be particularly noted that the sets of the spraying pipes are located verticallybelow the cooling pipe 22 and hence well within the region or zone of the degreasing vapors. By having the spraying pipe so located, any tendency to create fumes during the spraying operation tending to leave the tank I5, is kept to a minimum, and is by no means dependent upon the human element for the keeping of a manual spray within the degreasing zone, such as was necessary when the sprayin was done by the operator with ahand spray lance.

In order to insure having adequate supplyof condensate with which to spray the articles, the

baffle 80 is provided in the condensate supply tank 21. This bailie 30 will at all times maintain a definite height of condensate within the compartment 28 before any of the condensate is allowed to pass through the notch3l to the compartment 29 where it is allowed to automatically return to the bottom of the tank l5 through a downwardly extended pipe 51.

It should now be apparent that an adequate quantity of clean condensate is kept at all times available for use by the spray, and that the supply 28 within the bottom of the tank 15 is also maintained in a clean state. 'I'he'oil sludge is taken from the still at the location removed from the bottom of the tank l5 and thus sludge is not allowed to cool in the bottom of the tank I5 whereby it would be necessary to shut down the apparatus in order that this sludge be taken from the same. The only necessity for shutting down the apparatus for the present system is when broken articles have collected in sufficient quantity on the bottom of the tank.

Referring now to Fig. 9, there is shown hoisting apparatus, used for inserting the articles to be cleaned into the degreasing tank. Articles such as indicated at 80 in Fig. 2 are loaded into'a basket 6| which is suspended from pulley cables 82 and 83, Fig. 9, adapted to be operated by motor driven reels 64 carried on a hoisting motor 65 which is suspended from a movable frame 86. This frame 66 has trolley wheels 61 which run respectively over parallel disposed track rails 68 which may be connected to the superstructure of the building which houses the degreasing apparatus. The frame 86 is movable along these track rails 68 to locate the basket 8| longitudinally of the tank l5. When the frame 66 has abutted against stops 89 on the track rails 68, the basket 6| is automatically located or centered in proper vertical alignment with tank opening.

The motor 65 with its reels 64 is more directly carried on longitudinally extending channel members 10 which are connected to the end members 1| and 12 of the frame 68 for transverse movement therealong. The members 18 carry trolley wheels 14 adapted to be respectively run over the frame members 1| and 12. In order to properly locate the basket 8| in transverse alignment as well as in vertical alignment with the tank l5, there is provided on the end frames 1| and 12 the necessary stops 15.

Extending downwardly from the channel memhers and into a position where the same may be reached by the operator standing on the floor I1, is an enlarged pipe member 18 which is turned to extend transversely as indicated 'at 18 and thence downwardly as indicated at 19 to locate its handle 88 well within reach of the operator of the degreasing apparatus. This pipe 16 is braced to a motor supportingbracket 8| on the channel member 18 by means of brackets 86. By means of this pipe the operator can physically or manually move the hoisting apparatus to properly 1ocate the basket in either its position over the tank or in a position removed f-rom the same and wherever he desires to deposit the basket for loading or unloading the articles therefrom.

Once the operator has located the basket 5| with articles therein over the tank, the cleaning cycle of operation can be started. 0n the downwardly extendlngportion 19 of the pipe 18 and near to the handle 80, is an electric press button switch 82' which is connected by cable 83 shown by dotted lines extending through the pipe",

to a switch control box 84 on the motor'65. The hoisting motor is started and the lowering operation of the basket 5i begins. From this point on, the cycle of operation is completely out of the hands of the operator. The control from this point is completely automatic and until such time as the basket is returned to its position above the tank.

The motor control box 84 may include a limit control contact for automatically stopping the motor after the descent of the basket has been completed.

The basket 8| is lowered to the bottom of the tank and allowed'to rest on the screen 85 in the bottom of the tank and supported on the upwardlyextending shelf elements 86m. The screen 85 serves to collect any scrap pieces which may fall out of the basket or may negligently be allowed to get into the tank; When it is desired to clean the tank of these scrap pieces, this screen may be removed or raised to a location where the scrap pieces may readily be removed from the screen and all without the necessity of theman having to go down into the tank.

Carried on the inside of the tank l5 and at the side wall thereof, is a thermal-element 81. Means for carrying this thermal element 81 is that of a movable member 88 adapted to slide through guide plates 98 secured to the side wall of the tank l5. The thermal element 81 is connected to the movable member 88 as indicated at 9!. The lower end of the movable member 88 is turned I inwardly as indicated at 92 so that it will be enga cd in the bottom of the basket in a manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 to travel downwardly with the basket until it engages the screen 85 in the bottom of the tank. This downward movement of the member 88 is against the action of a spring 93 secured at its upper end to the movable member as indicated at 94, and to the side wall of the tank l5 by means of a bracket 95.

It would be noted as viewed in Fig. 4 that the thermal element 81 has been brought down'well below the cooling pipes 22 and thus into the region of the cleaning vapors where it will be acted upon by the same. As viewed in Figs. 1 and'2 it will be seen that a protecting plate 96 is arranged over the thermal element 81 whereby the same will be protected from the basket 8| as it is lowered into the tank. Other guiding elements 81, 81, and 98 are also provided for the basket so that the same will be swung free and clear of the cooling coils 22 and spray pipes 53 and 54 and in order to make its descent into the tank I5 without interference with obstructions within the tank. a

The thermal element 81 contains an expansible fluid and is connected by a flexible tube 99 to a switch box I having a switch therein responsive to the movementof the fluid within the tube 39. This switch may be of any known type, but is preferably of mercury contact type adapted to be thrown over readily into a postion for the making of an electrical circuit. Wires IOI extend from this switch I00 to a control board I02 as shown in Fig. 1.

The vapors within the bottom of the tank I5, as

V has been stated before, are maintained constant and kept to the level of the cooling coils 22. The temperature of these vapors is of the order of 190 F. and when the basket with the articles having a lower temperature and substantially that of the room surrounding the degreasing apparatus, is lowered into the vapors, a condensate will form on the articles to start the degreasing operation. Much of the vapor temporarily disappears, but automatically as the vapor returns and the temperature 01' the articles is brought to the temperature of the vapor, the vapor will be brought back or returned to its original state or temperature. The thermal element 81, before it is projected into the vapors, will have substantially the same temperature of the articles and it will be brought up to the temperature of the vapors at substantially the same time the articles are brought up to that temperature." At this time the thermal element will be sufliciently expanded to operate its switch, I 00, which, in'turn starts the spraying motor I to eil'ect rinsing of the articles, the cleaning action by condensation having been completed. This is accomplished through the control board I02 on which is mounted a time motor unit I03 serving to become effective for the turning off of'the spray motor 5|.

This timing motor is preferably set to permit spraying for a period of fifteen seconds, though any other amount of time may be used.

The spray motor 5| is connected by the wires I04 with the control board I02 and as viewed in Fig. 5, they are connected to an electrically operated switch I05. Thisswitch I 05 is operated automatically upon operation of the thermal switch I00 to start the spray motor. A coil I06 of the switch I05 is connected with the time motor unit I03.

If it be considered that the wires I01 be supplied with a 110-volt supply, a clutch coil I08 will automatically receive current as the thermal switch I00 is closed. This clutch coil I08 forming the part of the time motor unit I03 will cause the closing of a switch contact I09 to place a time motor element IIO across theielectric circuit of the electric supply I0'I. The time element H0 is associated with a contact I I I which is normally maintained against a terminal II2 by a spring II3. This terminal II2 extends to the coil I06 of the spray motor control switch I05.. Thus simultaneously with the starting of the spray motor 5| the timing element H0 is started to operate. Since, as pointed out, the timing motor H0 is operable at the end of fifteen seconds, it will put its element Ill in engagement with the switch III to throw the same over into contact with a terminal II5. As this is done, the spray motor will be stopped from operating, and current will no longer pass through coil I06 to maintain the switch I05 closed.

It is now necessary that a time lag be had to permit the proper draining of the spraying condensate from the articles which have thus been sprayed. If the switch element III is thrown over to contact with the terminal 5, current will then be passed from one of the supply wires I0'I to start operation of a timing element H6 forming a part of a time delay apparatus II! on the control board I02. This has been made possible by a previous operation of a switch III by a clutch coil H0 similarto the clutch coil I06 of the time switch I03. This coil I I9 is connected. across the same wires-as the coil I08 and as the thermal switch I00 is operated, the switches I00 and H8 are simultaneously closed.

The time motor element H6 is set to operate for approximately forty-five seconds, though any other length of time may be allowed. It is found that forty-five seconds is sufllcient for the proper draining of the articles after the rinsing operation. When the forty-five seconds are up, an element I20 on the time motor element II6 causes a switch arm I2I to be brought against a terminal I22 against the action of a spring I23 holding the switch arm I2I against a stop I24. As this is done, current is allowed to flow from the supply wires I01 through a coil I 25 of a motor normally control switch I26 which starts up the hoisting motor 65 to automatically effect the withdrawal of the articles from the tank. The hoisting operation continues until the baskethas reached a height well above the tank I5 whereupon the limit switch of the motor '05 will automatically operate to stop the hoisting motor 65. This portion ofthe limit switch, which may effect this operation is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 5.

Such limit switches are well known in the art and may be readily rigged up to effect this result.

The electric motors 5| and 65 are adequately provided with the necessary switching equipment for controlling the. operating current'for these motors. The motor 65 may. receive its power from the cables I30 as viewed in Fig. 9, which, together with'control cables I3I, extend through a single flexible cable housing I32 downwardly to the motor 65. The upper end of the flexible cable may be connected as indicated at I33, to a fixed point within the building housing the degreasing apparatus. As the motor 65 and the hoisting apparatus is moved, its movement will be permitted relative to the point I33 by this flexible portion I32.

It should now be'apparent that there has now been provided a degreasing apparatus which may be operated with safety and free of obnoxious fumes which would otherwise be injurious to the health of the operator, and that this apparatus, once the cycle of operation has been initiated by the operator, is'entirely automatic and free of the opertors judgment in its operation, whereby more eflicient and more satisfactory cleaning of the greased articles will be effective. It should also be apparent that in cooperation with this degreasing apparatus, there has been provided an arrangement for always maintaining a clean and unsour condensate for the cleaning operation, thereby further adding to the etliciency of the arrangement.

While various changes may be made in the detailed arrangement of the apparatus, it shall be understood that such arrangements shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invenbe cleaned into the region of the cleaning vapor, means for spraying the articles with the vapor condensate, means responsive to the condition of the vapor for controlling the operation of the spraying device' including means automatically incident to movement of the inserting means for pre-setting the control means, said control means being effective only upon the return of the vapor to a predetermined state to effect the automatic operation of the spraying device.

2. In a cleaning apparatus, a tank, means for maintaining a region of cleaning vapor within the tank, means for inserting articles in the vapor region, a device adapted to efiect a spray of the vapor condensate upon the articles within the cleaning vapor, thermally responsive means for controlling the operation of the spraying device including a thermal element adapted for movement into and out of vapor region, means engageable by the moving the thermal element into the vapor region to thereby render effective the controlling means.

3. In a cleaning apparatus, a tank containing a region of cleaning vapor, means for maintaining the cleaning vapor within the tank up to a fixed level, means for inserting articles to be cleaned into the region of the cleaning vapor, the articles being of lower temperature than the temperature of the vapor causing the vapor to be condensed on them, a spraying device having its nozzle located within the vapor region, and a thermally responsive device movable into the vapor region with the article and operable upon the vapor being returned to its original state to efiect the automatic operation or the spraying device. v

4. In a degreasing apparatus, a tank, means for maintaining degreasing vapor at a predetermined level within the tank to thereby provide a degreasing zone into which articles are to be introduced, means for moving the articles into and out of the degreasing zone, the articles being of lower temperature than the temperature oi. the degreasing vapor causing a temporary change in the state of the vapor, a spraying device for rinsing the articles being cleaned, and automatic means responsive to the its original state for effecting operation of the spraying device and subsequent operation of said second mentioned means to move the articles out of the degreasing zone.

5. In a degreasing apparatus, a tank having a top opening, means for maintaining a region of degreasing vapor within the tank, a hoisting device for lowering and raising the articles through the tank opening into and out or said region, control means for initiating the lowering of the hoisting device to position the articles in said region. the articles being of lower temperature than the vapor in said region causing the deposit of vapor condensate on the articles and the consequent temporarychange or state or the degreesing vapor, automatic means for stopping the hoisting device when the articles are properly located within the vapor region, and means responsive to the return .of the vapor to its original state for automatically effecting the operation of the hoisting device to raise the articles out or the vapor region.

6. In a degreasing apparatus, a tank having a top opening, means for maintaining a region oi degreasing vapor within the tank. a hoisting device for lowering and raising the articles through the tank opening into random; said region. said article inserting means for return of the vapor to hoisting device including an electric motor, an up and down limit switch, and an electric switch to start the lowering of the articles into the tank and to start the degreasing cycle, said limit switch serving to stop automatically the hoisting motor when the descent of the articles into the region of the degreasing vapor has been completed, the articles being of a lower temperature than that of the degreasing vapor causing a temporary change in the state of the vapor, means for spraying the articles within said region, automatic means responsive to the return of the vapor to its original state for starting the operation of said second mentioned means, and time delay means for shutting off the spraying device after a predetermined interval of time and for pre-setting a second time delay means, said second time delay means being arranged to start the hoisting motor after a predetermined timeis allowed to drain the articles which have been sprayed, said motor stop the hoisting motor when the articles have been raised out of the tank, whereby once operation of the hoisting device has been initiated the degreasing cycle and return of thearticles out of the tank is entirely automatic.

7. In a cleaning apparatus, a tank open at its top and having a cleaning zone, means for introducing vapor into said zone, mechanism for lowering articles to be cleaned into, and for supporting them in, said zone, thereby changing temporarily the state of the vapor in said zone, a motor for operating said mechanism, and means which is operative automatically a predetermined interval after said vapor returns to its normal state for energizing said motor and actuating said mechanism to withdraw said articles from said zone, said last mentioned means being responsive to the normal temperature of said va- 8. In a cleaning apparatus, a tank having a cleaning zone, means for introducing into said zone a cleaning agent in its vapor phase, means for introducing articles to be cleaned into said zone, thereby changing temporarily the temperature of the vapor in said zone in accordance with the characteristics of said articles, normally inoperative means for spraying a cleaning agent in its liquid phase upon said articles, and means for automatically rendering said last. mentioned means operative upon the return of the vapor in said zone toits normal mentioned means being responsive to the, normal temperature of said vapor.

9. In a cleaning apparatus, a tank having a cleaning zone, means for introducing into said zone a cleaning agent in its vapor phase, mechanism for introducing articles to be cleaned into said bone, thereby changing temporarily the state or the vapor in said zone characteristics 01' said articles, means for spraying a cleaning agent in its liquid phase upon said articles,'means for automatically rendering said spraying means operative upon the return oi the vapor to its normal state, timing means for automatically rendering said sprayinfineansflinoperative after a predetermined interval, means which is automatically operative alter said articles have been permitted to drain for a predetermined period for rendering anism operative to withdraw said articles from said zone.

Josnrn o. worrmu. mm a. ium'r annwm.

limit switch also serving to temperature, said last in accordance with the and said mech-. 

